Looseleaf binder structure for calendar desk diary use



W. J. SIBLEY LOOSELEAF'BINDER STRUCTURE FOR CALENDAR DESK DIARY USE Filed larch 18 1968 'm/vm/m/z WILL IAM- J. SIBLY BY c sqlunfl United States Patent Office Patented Dec. 1, 1970 U.S. Cl. 281-33 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Looseleaf binder structure for calendar desk diary use having a support panel provided with a central transverse ly disposed sheet holding means and hingedly connected end and cover panel members extending from the upper and lower edges of the support panel, said extending panels having interengageable fastening means and being foldable above and below the support panel for use as an easel-type desk stand and a binder carrying case, respec* tively.

BACKGROUND This invention relates to looseleaf binder devices and particularly to a binder for holding a pack of sheets de signed for calendar or desk diary use and the like.

A principal object is to provide a binder having a hinged panel construction with releasable fastener means which may either be readily opened up and erected for use as a conventional easel-type of desk diary pad platform or stand, or, when folded to a closed condition be formed as a convenient portable carrying case for the calendar sheets without changing the arrangement of dated pages currently in use. Thus, the user may readily convert the desk stand to a closed binder form to carry along with other file papers in a brief case, for example.

Another object is to provide such a binder with a calendar diary pad support panel carrying a centrally positioned looseleaf ring mechanism and having at the upper and lower edges thereof hingedly connected end panels together with a cover and closure flap panel, one element of an interengageable fastener means being located on the cover panel, other mating fastener elements being located on the opposite end panel and on the closure flap hinged thereto, for the easel and closed positions, respectively. A still more specific object is to provide a short panel flap at the outer edge of the cover panel as above described, such flap serving to impart a neater appearance and provide a pencil rest in the erected position, and when folded in closed relation to hold the free edge of the closure flap in spaced relation to the cover panel for more easily unfastening a closed binder.

The above and other specific advantages of the invention will be appreciated from the following descriptionv of a preferred embodiment thereof as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a binder embodying the invention, the hinged panel construction thereof being erected as an easel-type stand for desk diary usage;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the binder device of FIG. 1 with the panel extended as in flat planar relationship;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the binder device of FIG. 1 with the panels folded and closed in carrying case form; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view as on line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 2 the various panels comprising the structure of the invention are shown in fiat planar form. A support panel is at 2. Fixed centrally of panel 2 is a looseleaf ring binder toggle mechanism 4 of a conventional type having three split ring wire elements indicated at 6 for holding a pack of looseleaf sheets. This type of construction is well known in the art and requires no de tailed explanation. It is fastened as by rivets 8 to extend centrally of panel 2 between the upper and lower edges thereof. At the top of panel 2 and connected by a hinge portion at 10 is an upper end panel 12. Connected to the other side of panel 12 by hinge portion 14 is a cover 16.

The outer edge of cover 16 is defined by hinge portion 18 to which a short flap panel 20 is joined for a dual purpose as will be later described. In a central position and inwardly of the outer edge 18 of the cover 1 6 is a fastener means 22 preferably as shown in the form of a common snap button.

At the lower edge of panel 2 and connected thereto by hinge lines 24 and 26 are a lower end panel 28 and a closure flap panel 30 respectively. Centrally of each of these latter panels is a snap fastener button element at 32 and at 34 for fastening to the button 22 of the cover. The cover button 22 is a male button, the buttons 32 and 34 being female elements.

The hinge lines connecting panels 12, 16 and 20 at one end of support panel 2 and hinge lines 24 and 26 at the other end are all along parallel hinge portions. The various panels and hinge portions may be formed by any suitable means. Here shown (FIG. 4) stiffener panel members of suitable paper composition board or plastic sheet material of a relatively stiff character are indicated by primed numerals corresponding to the panels of which they form a part. The stiffener members are enclosed in spaced relation as shown between a pair of cover sheets of flexible heat-scalable thermoplastic material. The hinge portions between panels are formed by welding the inner faces of material of the sheets together, the peripheral edges of the sheets being welded to enclose the stiffeners along the outer edges thereof.

As will be apparent from FIG. 1 the looseleaf mechanism 4 is adapted for mounting a pack of sheets 40 on the rings. In a calendar diary it will be recognized that initially the pages 40' would normally be stacked at the right-hand side of panel 2. As a page lying at the right hand of the rings is used it will then be turned to rest on the other panel half. These pages may remain undisturbed when the binder is converted from the opened form of FIG. 1 to the closed form of FIG. 3.

In the FIG. 1 form the panels are arranged by swinging he upper end panel 12 and cover panel 16 below the upper edge of panel 2 and positioning the outer edge of panel 16 approximately even with the other lower edge of panel 2. Panels 28 and 30 meanwhile are reversely folded on hinge portion 24 and tucked between the support panel 2 and cover with the short panel 20 lying against the hinge portion 24. As best seen from FIG. 4 the female snap fastener element 32 of panel 28 may be registered with and releasably engage snap element 22 of the cover. The assembled relation of FIG. 1 is thus secured and as shown assumes the form of the standard type of easel stand calendar diary for desk top use.

Referring to the carrying case form as in FIG. 3, the panel structure is readily converted from the open condition of FIG. 1. In so doing flap 20 is turned away from hinge portion 24 for finger access to portion 24 and pried upwardly to separate the fastener. The cover panel and end panel 12 are swung about the upper edge of panel 2 and the cover turned to overlie the sheets 40. Flap 20 at the free edge of the cover is turned to lie inwardly against the outer edge surface and as shown the edge of the flap provides clearance for the fastener engagement. The lower end panel and closure flap are likewise turned upwardly and it will be obvious that fastener element 34 of the panel 30 is then registered and engaged with the button element 22 of the cover. Preferably this engagement is directly over the lower ring 6 to support a simple pressure snap engagement. It will be noted that the upper end panel 12 is of somewhat greater dimension lengthwise than panel 28. This'dimension may, of course,.be varied to provide a preferred elevation of the upper edge of the stand when assembled in the FIG. 1 position.

Referring now to the short flap 20 at the outer end edge of cover panel 16, as in FIGS. 1 and 4, the flap serves as a pencil rest for the lower edge of panel 2. In addition it presents a neater single edge appearance covering the hinge portion at 24. In sealing the flap to the cover by the hinge line portion at 18 the upright relation (FIG. 4) may be imparted thereto by the nature of the weld between the plies of cover material. At the inside of hinge portion 18 a central ridged line is indicated at 19 which is formed by the action of the sealing tool in securing the plies together. The material at each side of ridge 19 is thus drawn together so as to urge the flap against the lower hinge portion 24 of panel 2. In the closed binder condition, the flap 20 is folded over the upper surface of the cover 16 and thus will tend to maintain the upright relation when reassembled.

It will further be noted that flap 20 in the carrying case arrangement leaves the free edge of closure flap 20 raised to a slight degree above the cover surface. The edge of the flap may thus be more readily manipulated to dis-- engage the flap fastener. It will also be noted that in dismantling the easel stand condition (see FIG. 4), the pencil can be removed, the flap 20 turned back from hinge 24 and the user is afforded access for leverage to part the snap elements 32 and 22.

What is claimed is:

1. Looseleaf binder easel stand structure for desk diaries and the like convertible to carrying case form and comprising,

a support panel provided with sheet holding means centered transversely thereof for turning the sheets of e a pack of sheets resting on one-half of the panel surface to lie against the other half, an upper end panel and a cover panel connected in tandem to the upper edge of the support panel, the cover panel being of substantially the same overa all dimensions as the support panel, a lower end panel and a closure flap panel connected in tandem to the lower edge of the support panel, all said panels being of flat rigid construction and the connections therebetween being along parallel folding hinge line portions,

said lower end and closure panels each having fastener elements, and

said cover panel having fastener means located in adjacent spaced relation to the outer edge thereof, said lower end panel fastener element having a substantially equal spaced relation with respect to the hinge line connection thereof with the support panel, said cover panel fastener means being engageable with said lower end panel and closure panel elements for selectively and releasably fastening the same when in easel stand form and in carrying case form, respectively,

said lower end and closure panels when arranged for easel stand use being reversely folded underneath said support panel with said cover panel being turned underneath the support panel, the outer edge of the cover panel lying adjacent the lower edge of the support panel and said cover panel fastener means releasably engaged by the fastener element of the lower end panel, whereby said upper end panel will hold the opposite end of the support panel in elevated relation as an easel rest,

said cover panel when arranged in carrying case form being turned inwardly on the upper end panel and overlying said support panel, the fastener means of the cover being releasably engaged by the fastener element of the closure flap panel, the latter panel being turned inwardly on the lower end panel.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which said sheet holding means is a looseleaf toggle ring mechanism extending from top to bottom of the support panel.

3. The structure of claim 2 in which the fastener elements of the lower end and closure panels are similar snap button elements located centrally of said panels and the fastener means on the cover panel is a complementary snap fastener element centrally disposed adjacent the outer edge of said cover panel.

4. Looseleaf binder easel stand structure for desk diaries and the like convertible to carrying case form and comprising,

a support panel provided with a looseleaf sheet holding ring mechanism centered transversely and extending from top to bottom thereof for turning the sheets of a pack of sheets resting on one-half of the panel surface to lie against the other half,

an upper end panel and a cover. panel connected in tandem to the upper edge of'the support panel, the cover panel being of substantially the same over-all dimensions as the support panel,

a lower end panel and a closure flap panel connected in tandem to the lower edge of the support panel, the connections between all of said panels being along parallel folding hinge line portions,

said lower end and closure panels each having similar snap button fastener elements located centrally of said panels, and

said cover panel having a complementary snap fastener element centrally disposed adjacent the outer edge of said cover panel and engageable with said lower end panel and closure panel elements for selectively and releasably fastening the same in easel stand form and in carrying case form, respectively,

said lower end and closure panels when arranged for easel stand use being reversely folded underneath said support panel with said cover panel being turned underneath the support panel, the outer edge of the cover panel lying adjacentthe lower edge of the support panel and said complementary fastener element of the cover panel releasably engaged by the snap button fastener element of the lower end panel, whereby said upper end panel will hold the opposite end of the support panel in elevated relation as an easel rest,

said cover panel when arranged in closed carrying case form being turned inwardly on the upper end panel and overlying said support panel, said snap fastener element of the cover being releasably engaged by the fastener element of the closure flap panel and resting in registering relation directly against a ring of the sheet holding mechanism, the latter panel being turned inwardly on the lower end panel.

5. Looseleaf binder easel stand structure for desk diaries and the like convertible to carrying case form and comprising,

a support panel provided with a looseleaf sheet holding ring mechanism centered transversely and extending from top to bottom thereof for turning the sheets of a pack of sheets resting on one-half of the panel surface to lie against the other half,

an upper end panel and a cover panel connected in tandem to the upper edge of the support panel, the cover panel being of substantially the same over-all dimensions as the support panel and having a short flap hingedly connected at the outer end edge of the cover,

a lower end panel and a closure flap panel connected in tandem to the lower edge of the support panel,

the connections between all of said panels being along parallel folding hinge line portions,

said lower end and closure panels each having similar snap button fastener elements located centrally of said panels, and

said cover panel having a complementary snap fastener element centrally disposed adjacent the outer edge of said panel and engageable with said lower end panel fastener element of the closure flap panel, the latter panel being turned inwardly on the lower end panel.

and closure panel elements for selectively and releasably fastening the same when in easel stand form and in carrying case form, respectively,

said lower end and closure panels when arranged for 10 easel stand use being reversely folded underneath said support panel with said cover panel being turned References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS underneath the support panel, the outer edge of the 1 1550; 28125123); cover panel lying adjacent the lower edge of the sup- 521 7/1937 Keman 281 33 port panel and the hinged connection of said short 15 3220752 11/1965 Sloves 281 33 flap urging the latter upwardly at the outer end edge 3270449 9/1966 Robbie of the cover panel with said flap extending upwardly of the support panel edge to form a pencil rest and FOREIGN TENTS an overlying strip along said support edge, and said 460,926 10/1913 France.

complementary fastener element of the cover panel 20 releasably engaged by the snap button fastener element of the lower end panel, whereby said upper JEROME SCHNALL, Primary Examiner 

